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Marian College304 Barkly Street,

ARARAT VIC 3377

Phone (03) 5352 3861Fax (03) 5352 5002

principal@mcararat.catholic.edu.auwww.mcararat.catholic.edu.au

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Dear Prospective Parents, Guardians and Students,

From The PrincipalThe choice of a secondary school is one of the most important decisions a family has to make. I trust that the information contained in this folder helps you to make that decision.

Marian College is a Year 7 to 12 Catholic co-educational college with a 127-year history of serving the parishes of Ararat, Stawell and Beaufort.

The College was established by the Brigidine Sisters and they still own and operate the College and have a presence on staff and through the Stewardship Council. As a community we are very proud of our school, its Brigidine identity and of the Brigidine ethos developed so strongly over the years.

The classroom facilities available are excellent with over $6 million worth of development over the last ten years. We have modern facilities that enable us to present a wide-ranging curriculum. In 2013 the $1.6M state -of -the art Multi-Purpose Hall/Gymnasium was opened. This facility provides our students with cutting edge sporting facilities. In 2014 the new Trade Training Centre was opened, providing the opportunity for students to study Cert III Lab Skills.

The student numbers at Marian College have been steadily increasing and in 2015 we will have an anticipated enrolment of over 600 students. We have a well-developed pastoral care program that helps ensure the welfare of all students.

We have put in place programs to meet the individual needs of students with special learning requirements.

Marian College aims at developing the whole child – academically, physically, socially and spiritually. We emphasise belonging to a community in which all the members feel welcome, safe and respected.

Marian College offers a wide curriculum designed to meet the needs of all students. We have a comprehensive co-curricula program that meets the needs in the sporting, musical, drama and community involvement areas. We provide a good range of VCE subjects and VET courses and have recently introduced the VCAL.

I believe that Marian College will provide a quality education for your child.

If you would like to enroll your child please complete the enrolment form and return it to the College. You will then be invited to attend an interview.

Thank you for considering Marian College.

Mrs Carmel BarkerPRINCIPAL

In Brigidine Education, we will:

Be faithful to our Catholic heritage

Welcome all people, especially the most vulnerable

Celebrate all that is good with joy and gratitude

Engender a love of learning, hope and a sense of purpose

Image and practise justice and service

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Faith DevelopmentEnrolment at Marian College is an invitation to “come and see” in the spirit of the Gospel invitation of Jesus, within the framework of our Catholic faith and our Brigidine values. At Marian, this invitation is offered for students of all religious backgrounds and with an appreciation of other faiths and cultures.

The Religious Education experience at Marian College is not just a strong part of our curriculum, but entrenched in our whole school culture and community, which aims to develop religiously literate young people who;

• understand and appreciate religious values

• are positive about life• have a sense of their own worth

and of their contribution to the world

• are able to apply the Gospel values they have acquired, in the context in which they live and work

At a curriculum level, our Religious Education Program follows the Awakenings Guidelines mandated for use in Catholic schools in the Ballarat Diocese. Our strands of study cover Christian Prayer, Sacraments, Religion and Society, God, Christian Life, Jesus Christ, Scripture and Church. Awakenings describes the role of religious education as follows: ‘ … religious education sets out to inform, form and transform learners and teachers by engaging them with the intellectual, ethical and spiritual richness of the Catholic tradition.’

Religious education invites and enables a life-long journey of awakening to

the deep meaning of human life and community, of the world we inhabit and sustain, and of our cultural and religious heritage, against the horizon of the

Reign of God enfleshed in the mission and person of Jesus Christ, and communicated

in the Church. (The Core Document, “Awakenings”)

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Junior School

Core Subjects Yr 7 & 8Religious Education EnglishMathematicsScienceHistoryPhysical EducationComputer StudiesArtTextilesMandarinHome EconomicsPerforming Arts (Dance, Drama, Music)Materials Technology (Wood, Metal, Plastics,Electronics)

iPadsMarian College embraces the advancements of technology and every student at the College is issued with an iPad along with a credit voucher to purchase the necessary applications.

The iPads, which remain the property of Marian College, will be individually managed by the student and governed by a Code of Conduct in the use of the iPad.

Priot to receiving their iPads, contracts must by co-signed by parents with the understanding of supporting Marian College in the correct use of technology.

Year 7 A Year of Transition

The transition from primary to secondary education is an important step for all students.

The curriculum at Year 7 helps in this transition process by providing a wide range of subjects for the students to experience.

Students who have specific learning needs (especially in literacy and numeracy) receive special assistance.

The camp at Year 7 is designed to help students to get to know their new classmates and is held early in Term 1.

Year 8 A Year of Consolidation

We concentrate on strengthening and developing skills and understandings in the subjects begun in Year 7.

A literacy program is offered to these students who have been identified as having needs in this area. The rest of the subjects are the same as for Year 7.

The camp at Year 8 is designed to provide students with an opportunity to move out of their comfort zones.

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Health & PEGames of the WorldNetball Studies

Year 9 A Year of Personal Development

At Year 9 we concentrate on assisting students to deal with the challenging task of dealing with adolescence. Year 9 is the year where students need to face the move from childhood to adulthood.

A special Year 9 Program has been developed to enable the students to work in smaller groups and follow programs not constrained by bell times.

The Year 9 curriculum is a mixture of Core subjects and Electives. The students choose from a variety of electives that cover all key learning areas.

The Year 9 camp is an adventure camp that assists them to face change and obstacles and to see the importance of teamwork.

Core SubjectsReligious EducationEnglishMathematicsPhysical Education & HealthHumanitiesScience

The ArtsDrama Lights Set Action Art Drawing Ceramics Digital Photography Music on the iPadPopular Music Studies Visual Communication

LOTEMandarin

EnglishLiterature Creative Writing

MathsMaths in SportArchitecture in Mathematics

TechnologyComputer Aided designdeveloping Digital MediaMaterials - Wood & PLasticsMaterials - Metal & EngineeringSystems mechatronicstextilesThe Fabric of CommunityJewelleryCooking for celebrationMulticultural Cooking

Middle School

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Middle SchoolYear 10

Year of Considering The Future

Year 10 is the year where students need to consider their future options. At the end of Year 10 students will be choosing either VCE, VCAL or employment.

All students undertake two units of VCE Industry and Enterprise to help in their career choices. They all do two weeks of Work Experience.

As part of their Religious Education Program, all students do a Community Service for one afternoon a week in Semester 2.

The students choose from a variety of electives that cover all key learning areas. They also have a choice of studying VCE General Maths.

The Year 10 camp involves a wide range of activities in Melbourne.

We highly encourage students to select one VCE Unit 1 & 2 subject from the following list below.

CoreReligious EducationEnglishPhysical Education & HealthScience History Career Studies Mathematics (3 choices) CAS Maths Year 10 Maths Fundamental Maths

ElectivesStudents must select 2 Humanities electives

HumanitiesHorrible HistoriesGame of ThronesEconomicsLegal StudiesGeorgraphy of TerrorBusiness Management

English Literature Creative WritingCinema Studies

MathsMaths through Investigation Money Mathematics

LOTEMandarin

TechnologyAsian Foods Survival Foods Food for Fitness Textiles – Fashion Textiles – Wearable Textiles - Fabric of the CommunityMaterials – Furniture Making Materials – Advanced Woodwork Systems–Mechatronics Advanced Developing Digital Skills

Health & PEOutdoor ActivitiesMulti-Sport Fitness

ArtsFoundation ArtCeramicsDrawingDramaDrama & Production(Wakakirri)Photographic ImagingMusic Performance and Composition

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VET Courses

Certificate II in Automotive Studies (Prevocational) Certificate II in Building and Construction (Pre-apprenticeship) Certificate II in Sport & Recreation Certificate II in Community Services Certificate II in Engineering Studies Certificate II in Food Processing (Wine) Certificate II in Hair Dressing Certificate II in Hospitality Certificate III in Information Technology

VCE Units 1 & 2Biology Business Management DramaFood TechnologyHealth & Human Development History (1990 – 1945) Legal Studies Music Performance PhilosophyPhysical Education Studio Arts Psychology Product Design & Technology (Textiles)

Product Design & Technology (Wood Plastics Metal)

Systems TechnologyVisual Communications & Design (TBA)

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Senior SchoolYears 11 & 12

Bringing it all TogetherThere are many possible subjects and pathways available at this level.

1. VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education)

The VCE is a two year certificate that enables students to be prepared for further study (University or TAFE) further training (Apprenticeships, traineeships) or employment.

Religious Education is a compulsory subject at Marian College. The following VCE subjects are offered and students can also undertake VET programs:

EnglishEnglish and/or Literature The Literature option instead of English applies to Year 12 students only.

Elective UnitsHumanitiesSubject UnitsEnglish 1-4Literature 1-4

Australian & Global Politics 1-2Australian Politics 3-4Business Management 1-4Legal Studies 1-4History (1900 - 1945) 1-2History Revolutions 3-4Australian History 3-4Philosophy 1-4LOTE - Mandarin 1-4

Subject UnitsMusic Performance 1-4Drama/Theatre Studies 1-4

Studio Art 1-2Visual Communications 3-4

The Arts

ScienceSubject UnitsBiology 1-4Chemistry 1-4

VCE VET Lab Skills Cert IIIPhysics 1-4Psychology 1-4

Health & Physical EducationSubject UnitsHealth & Human Development 1-4Physical Education 1-4

VCE VET Sport & Recreation Cert III

TechnologySubject UnitsProduct, Design & Technology• Textiles• Wood, Plastics and Materials

1-4

Food & Technology 1-4

Systems Engineering 1-4

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2. VCAL

(Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning)

The VCAL is a program that prepares students for the world of employment or further training. All students do a VET program and a day per week (or its equivalent) of Structured Workplace Learning.

The VCAL students do core studies in Literacy, Numeracy, Work-Related Skills and Personal Development.

4. SBA (School Based New Apprenticeships)

Year 11 & 12 students are able to undertake School Based New Apprenticeships which blend together both VCE. VCAL and one or two days apprentice training.

VCAA website

The VCAA website contains the study designs for all courses offered at VCE. A full description of each course including the methods of assessments are contsined in each guide.

All students enrolled in Unit 3 & 4 subjects will sit the General Achievement Test (GAT) in June.

3. VET Programs (Vocational Education Training)

The following VET Programs are offered:

Certificate II in Automotive Studies (Prevocational)

Certificate II in Building and Construction

Certificate II Small Business (VCAL only)

Certificate II in Community Recreation

Certificate II in Community Services (Aged Care)

Certificate II in Engineering Studies

Certificate II in Food Processing (Wine)

Certificate II in Hospitality (ACC)

Certificate III in Information Technology

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SportsCycling

Running

Cross Country

Netball

Football

Soccer

Tennis

Volleyball

Swimming

Cricket

Athletics

Squash

Badminton

Croquet

Clay Target Shooting

Equestrian

Basketball

Fitness testing

Gymnastics

Sun/water safety

Pateka

Petanque

Baseball

Softball

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Visual and DramaticArt and Drama are integral and dynamic components of the Marian College curriculum. Artistic expression is enthusiastically fostered in students on all year levels and in many different subject choices.

The Art curriculum combines modern techniques such as computer art, animation, graphic design and photography, both digital and wet area with more traditional elements such as painting, ceramics, sculpture, print making and drawing.

Students are challenged to see new perspectives and respond with self expression and creative flair. From Year 9 onwards, Art become an elective subject.

Drama encompasses performing, music and dance in the junior curriculum and the college introduces specialist elective such as Song Performance from Year 9 onwards. All students have the opportunity to explore self awareness and self confidence through drama; an experience which is both challenging and enriching.

Marian College invites all students to become involved in the annual Drama Performance staged at the Ararat Performing Arts Centre as well as Rock Ed which is performed in Melbourne with many other schools.

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Arts

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Extra InterestsExtra-curricular activities conducted at Marian College aim to extend and enrich the experiences of students. They include:

Instrumental MusicStudents have an experience of music as part of the Performing Arts program. If students wish to take this further and learn a particular instrument, the College has engaged sessional music teachers to teach a wide variety of instruments. Instruments are available for hire or loan. The cost of this program is not covered by the tuition fee.

SportIn addition to the Physical Education program offered, all students have opportunities to participate in sporting activities that include inter-house and inter-school swimming, athletics and cross-country and inter-school football, netball, etc.

Marian College is a member of the Catholic All Schools – the state level competition.

Student LeadershipLeadership qualities among students are nurtured at all year levels. Class Captains are elected and appointed to help with the sense of belonging at the year level. They organise a variety of activities during the year. Students are provided with opportunities to develop leadership and organisational skills as they work cooperatively with others.

Extension & Challenge ActivitiesStudents are encouraged to be involved in a variety of extension and challenge activities. These include Tournaments of the Mind, Young Achievers, Australian Mathematics, Clay Target Shooting, Ballarat Diocese Chess Tournament, Science and English competitions.